All nursing home staff in Massachusetts must get COVID-19 shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 05, 2021
The state is requiring staff and contract employees in all of its 378 facilities to receive a vaccination, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
CDC extends free COVID-19 PCR testing program to assisted living
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 07, 2022
Assisted living communities now have access to free COVID-19 testing through a federal program that previously targeted schools, shelters and correctional facilities.
Fauci: Early data show omicron spreads quickly but with less severity than delta
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 08, 2021
Omicron cases appear to have led to fewer hospitalizations and patients have been less likely to need oxygen, the White House’s infectious disease expert said Tuesday.
Hip fracture readmissions lower when nursing home in sync with hospital staff: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 14, 2022
A collaboration between nursing home staff and hospital clinicians helped reduce readmission and mortality rates and improved quality of life for residents with hip fracture.
Alzheimer’s drug donanemab finds late-stage trial success, safety concerns
By
Alicia Lasek
May 04, 2023
The experimental drug donanemab appears to halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and slow certain measures of clinical decline, new trial data show.
Low-dose brain radiation improves behavior, cognition in Alzheimer’s pilot study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 04, 2021
Low-dose ionizing radiation may be a promising, although possibly controversial, therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the researchers behind a small new pilot study.
Survey: U.S. neurologists would prescribe Leqembi if fully approved
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2023
A “healthy proportion” of surveyed neurologists have already begun prescribing the treatment, and nearly all said they planned to do so if traditional FDA approval is granted.
Becerra orders CMS to rethink $22 Medicare Part B premium price hike tied to Aduhelm
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2022
With the 50% price drop of Aduhelm on January 1, there is good reason for CMS to reassess a hefty proposed premium hike for 2022, the U.S. health secretary said. On Wednesday, CMS is expected to announce...
Aduhelm’s costs: Medicare recipients won’t get premium reduction until 2023
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 01, 2022
A cost overestimate that bumped up Medicare premiums for seniors in 2022 will not be corrected until the following year. The spike is tied to coverage for Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm.
Pfizer asks FDA to approve omicron-specific booster shot
Aug 22, 2022
The drug company says that its new mRNA vaccine produces an immune response against the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants.